Ecopark Kantun Chi

The amazing cenotes, or limestone sinkholes, that appear all along the Karst region of the Yucatán Peninsula were considered to be sacred by the Mayan civilisation and it’s not hard to see why once you experience these amazing natural formations at first hand.

Katun-Chi ecological park in the Riviera Maya contains a number of stunning cenotes as well as a host of other attractions including tropical rainforest and amazing native creatures like spider monkeys, racoon, deer, reptiles and iridescent birds-of-paradise. Come hike the trails and swim in the fresh water of the beautifully lit underground caverns.

Cenotes are formed when water seeps through porous bedrock in Karst regions, creating underground caves as the water passes through the rock. Over millions of years, the water weakens the rock and the ceilings eventually collapse, leaving the freshwater sinkholes. As cenotes are the major source of fresh water in the region, they were highly prized by the Mayans for both practical and ceremonial reasons. They built many of their cities around them and they were also seen as the gateways to the afterlife and were the sites of various rituals, including human sacrifices.

Any visit to Kantun-Chi should take in the four cenotes, which you can explore on foot, kayak or by snorkelling. The underground caverns are a sight to behold, with incredible stalactites and stalagmites illuminated colourfully and glistening in the cool, pure water. The passages created by water in the Gutaventura cavern which connects two cenotes contain plenty of examples of these amazing formations.

The park’s biggest cenote is Sas ka leen Ha, which translates as “transparent water”, a name that comes from the incredible purity of the water that is filtered naturally as it seeps slowly through soil and rock. After you’ve swam through this amazing underworld you can lie back and relax in one of the hammocks to be found throughout the park.

The park’s admission fee includes a tour guide and you should allow two to four hours to enjoy the park in full. It is serviced by regular buses and there is plenty of on-site parking.